Hello - Problem Solved - Please Delete - Thanks!
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Best thing you can do is get your reservations in if you haven't already. I believe magic number was 1500 cars, and that has not been reached quite yet.
I wonder if even half the Reservations needed has been reached yet?
Not enough reservations to move forward yet.
Has Scott thought about switching to Amfleet II instead? I emailed him about it when first announced but no response and it seems many forum members would prefer that. Also Phase IVb is a must.
Will Ebbert posted:Also Phase IVb is a must.
Phase IVb is not a scheme. Phase VI is the correct term for the scheme you may be thinking of.
GenesisFan99 posted:Will Ebbert posted:Also Phase IVb is a must.
Phase IVb is not a scheme. Phase VI is the correct term for the scheme you may be thinking of.
I've heard it both ways. (Psych reference) 
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Will Ebbert posted:GenesisFan99 posted:Will Ebbert posted:Also Phase IVb is a must.
Phase IVb is not a scheme. Phase VI is the correct term for the scheme you may be thinking of.
I've heard it both ways. (Psych reference)
Here is the official Amtrak paint scheme and logo guide, courtesy of Matt Donnelly, who is high up in Amtrak's marketing department. https://ogrforum.com/...%20web%2012-5-17.pdf
I know it seems silly, but Amtrak is trying to ensure the scheme is called what it is. In fact, Kato actually already changed some of their offerings to reflect the correct name.
Believe it or not, Phase IV and Phase VI are very different. They may look similar enough for Phase VI to be called Phase IVb, but if you look at stripe height (as specified in the guide) there is a noticeable difference.
Now back to the topic. I absolutely agree with you Will, Phase VI is a must and I've suggested it to GG1 4877. It very well could be what saves the project.
I have 5 of these ordered, hoping they get made. A switch to Amfleet 2 would get my thumbs up!
The problem with switching is you alienate people like me who want to model corridor routes. I'd argue doing both is the better option, if at all possible. With Amfleet Is you cater to system-wide corridor routes, but with Amfleet IIs you are limited to eastern long distance routes only.
Actually I wish I could model the Lakeshore Limited or any of the single level long distance trains.
Clem
I think you have to look at the 1 vs 2 issue like this.... If they get made, be glad they get made and work with what you get... its taken a few years of lobbying to make it to this point.
I'm glad they're being made at all, and as much as I love counting down to the Nth rivet, I've learned that beggers cant always be choosers. Making 1s opens up all the paint jobs which means more possible cars made and the run gets done.
I've got a stack of undec CZ cars to "HEP" and I'm gonna run my Phase IIIs with em. They're 21" and its gonna be close enough.
If Scott can get a license to use the "wave" service mark and the new font, then I'd switch my Phase IV set to IVb/VI (I was of the impression the new 3 stripe America scheme was VI, but semantics, we all know what we're talking about here.
Boilermaker1 posted:
If Scott can get a license to use the "wave" service mark and the new font, then I'd switch my Phase IV set to IVb/VI (I was of the impression the new 3 stripe America scheme was VI, but semantics, we all know what we're talking about here.
The service mark is officially known as the Travelmark and the font is Frutiger.
Additionally, while you may see the scheme names as semantics, the info straight from the horse's mouth is above, and I'm sure you looked at it. The America scheme is just an updated Phase III, same with the Empire Service scheme on the P32s. Amtrak calls Phase VI what it is because Phase V already appeared on rolling stock, including passenger cars, in the form of the Acela Regional/Capstone and Acela schemes. If the Phase III you see on the Viewliner IIs was not a form of Phase III, then it would be called Phase VII. Amtrak wants the schemes called what they are, it's part of their branding.
Phase VI has been added. Let's get those reservations in! Scott said he only has half the required reservations.
GenesisFan99 posted:Phase VI has been added. Let's get those reservations in! Scott said he only has half the required reservations.
Just went to the GGD website, but didn't see Phase VI listed. I would be in for a 5 car Phase VI set in 3R when listed.
WMTim posted:GenesisFan99 posted:Phase VI has been added. Let's get those reservations in! Scott said he only has half the required reservations.
Just went to the GGD website, but didn't see Phase VI listed. I would be in for a 5 car Phase VI set in 3R when listed.
Scott probably hasn't gotten around to it yet, but he told me he would add it to reservations on the site.
Scott and I talked a week ago Monday and decided that Phase VI should go on the list. Hopefully enough new orders are generated to save the project. That was one of the most common questions I got at the booth at York, "Are Amfleet cars going to run?"
I am hopeful!
Thank you for following through. I had asked you a while back about the possibility and I'm really glad that Phase VI is being added. As soon as it's up on the site I'll make sure to order some.
Now I am curious-how far is GGD willing to go with Phase VI? To make the Northeast Corridor modelers happy I'm sure a Northeast Regional-branded Cafe would be appreciated. I also personally would really like to have a business class coach.
HHHHM, I think I made that suggestion like a year ago.
I still would like a current eastern single level long distance consist.
Clem
GenesisFan99 posted:Thank you for following through. I had asked you a while back about the possibility and I'm really glad that Phase VI is being added. As soon as it's up on the site I'll make sure to order some.
Now I am curious-how far is GGD willing to go with Phase VI? To make the Northeast Corridor modelers happy I'm sure a Northeast Regional-branded Cafe would be appreciated. I also personally would really like to have a business class coach.
That remains to be determined, but I wouldn't ask for too many variations on this one. We are trying to get the factory to this at 500 cars and they won't be as flexible with minor variations as they are on the locomotives. Doing the decals for the variations may be possible based on orders, but interiors will be the same for all the coaches and we will select a common lounge / cafe version that comes closest to satisfying all the variations on that car.
They key to making this project go is to keep it as simple as possible at the numbers we are looking at to make it happen. Who knows though? Like many of the GGD / 3rd Rail / Sunset products, people see them and ask for second runs once they are on the street. If interest develops for a second run, more variety can be introduced.
In the meantime, first things first. Place your orders to get us to the 500 mark so we do something with the project other than cancel it.
He should add IVB as well
Matt Makens posted:He should add IVB as well
He did, just the proper and official name is VI.
Jonathan,
Theres no mention of the Amfleet project at all in the May email blast. If you guys are adding more choices, help yourselves and advertise the change!
As soon as the order form gets updated I’ll email Shani and change my phase IV cars to VI.
I agree with Boilermaker. People should know about this, as not everyone is on the forum here. I posted in a Facebook group and I know for a fact there's interest. There's a guy I talked to who wants to order a full Phase VI 5 car set in addition to 2 extra cars as soon as the change goes live.
It will be announced formally in the not too distant future. Remember 3rd is a small family owned business with very few full time employees. Scott does a lot of this himself. I work for them on contract only, along with a few other people. Once the website has been updated, notice will go out. Think of it this way, OGR forum members got a sneak preview!
GG1 4877 posted:It will be announced formally in the not too distant future. Remember 3rd is a small family owned business with very few full time employees. Scott does a lot of this himself. I work for them on contract only, along with a few other people. Once the website has been updated, notice will go out. Think of it this way, OGR forum members got a sneak preview!
I think customers are used to the old days with people all over the place. They demand low prices and high quality. So something has to give. Is there a Scott junior for the future?
I understand Scott is a busy man, but I didn't see the Amfleet addition announced in the latest update from Sunset/GGD. Is that still a go or is Scott super busy with other things?
One word: ERR
Well three words to be precise ... 
Makes sense. I'm in the process of getting 2 more Horizon coaches so only need the Amfleet now, so close to a Pacific Surfliner. Hopefully Scott gets the situation sorted out with the mountain of reservations coming in for ERR and the Phase VI addition gets officially announced.
Good morning all:
Is there any update on this project? I am considering a full consist reservation in Phase 3, but I will not proceed if the project has been canceled. The GGD website still has the reservation forms, so I am 'assuming' the project is still alive. I rather prefer this to the shortened MTH offerings. Thanks.
The last time I talked to Scott about this prior to York, the project is not dead. Orders are just trickling in slowly. There is a chance that it may be changed to an aluminum project to be able to produce it in lower numbers.
Finally there may be a very pleasant surprise that will put this project over the top, but I'm not sure if that will be a go or not. Right now Scott is in China working through the final work on the E6s, getting through design on the F3s, and starting production on 2nd Run PA's and 3rd Run E7s. We are also starting to look at the GP7/9 project in more detail now. There is a gap in production at the moment so the factory wants to focus on those projects. In other words a lot going on at once!
As always stay tuned.
Good afternoon Jonathan:
Would the project be helped by reservations in a particular paint scheme, or is it just a matter of getting the right number of total cars?
Aluminum sounds great, and quite an exquisite model. However, I would imagine that would jack the price per car significantly, hence the lower number of required orders?
Thank you for responding.
Nate,
Paint schemes aren't as important as the total number of units. To do the car in plastic, which to me is actually a superior quality of detail requires a tool that has to be divided among the number of units. Extruded aluminum just needs a form to extrude the shape of the car, cut it to the right length, CNC the windows, place interiors and put end caps on. However, you are correct, aluminum will be more expensive.
Once Scott gets back from China I'll follow up with him on this project. I'm looking forward to having these produced myself! I have a fleet of HO ones from the way back machine from Bachmann and Walthers.
I'm a much bigger fan of plastic. I still don't get why the cars aren't being offered in the current paint scheme. That would certainly bring in more orders.
Hi Jonathan:
Understood; thanks. If a switch to aluminum is made, I assume that will reset the order counter? Please forgive my ignorance, but I will hold off on any reservation if there is a chance that change is made. I would still make a reservation, but not as many as I might with plastic. I agree that plastic is better for details, and would prefer that myself.
I have watched this thread for some time, and am eager to see something happen. I am not a horrendous rivet counter, and MTH does a good job with their Amfleets. However, they have to be scale length; it just bugs me otherwise. Thanks again for responding.
The cars will be offered in the current paint scheme. Like I have mentioned in the past on this thread, everything needs updating. It is one of the round-tuit issues I suspect because the project has taken time to generate orders. There are other issues to be corrected such as how the sets are configured, etc.
I hope that we can pass on some additional information soon. Last time I met with Scott in early April I was very encouraged. Wish I had more to say on it though.
Hi Jonathan:
Thank you for responding; it has been very helpful. At this point I would like to wait until the site and details are updated before submitting any reservation. Barring incident, I would put down for a 5-car PH3 set, plus the extra coach and cafe. Thanks again.
This is probably a long shot but would it be at all possible to lump in Amfleet IIs? Not sure if that would require all new tooling or not. If not that could also probably boost orders.
